Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients

Dan Daniel; Marcus Lin; Irvan Luhung; Tony Lui; Anton Sadovoy; Xueqi Koh; Anqi Sng; Tuan Tran; Stephan C. Schuster; Xian Jun Loh; Oo Schwe Thet; Chee Keat Tan

doi:10.1111/ina.12828

Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients

Dan Daniel, Marcus Lin, Irvan Luhung, Tony Lui, Anton Sadovoy, Xueqi Koh, Anqi Sng, Tuan Tran, Stephan C. Schuster, Xian Jun Loh, Oo Schwe Thet, Chee Keat Tan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Facing shortages of personal protective equipment, some clinicians have advocated the use of barrier enclosures (typically mounted over the head, with and without suction) to contain aerosol emissions from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. There is, however, little evidence for its usefulness. To test the effectiveness of such a device, we built a manikin that can expire micron-sized aerosols at flow rates close to physiological conditions. We then placed the manikin inside the enclosure and used a laser sheet to visualize the aerosol leaking out. We show that with sufficient suction, it is possible to effectively contain aerosol from the manikin, reducing aerosol exposure outside the enclosure by 99%. In contrast, a passive barrier without suction only reduces aerosol exposure by 60%.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1639-1644
Number of pages	6
Journal	Indoor Air
Volume	31
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12828
State	Published - Sep 1 2021
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Building and Construction
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Environmental Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/ina.12828

Cite this

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title = "Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients",

abstract = "Facing shortages of personal protective equipment, some clinicians have advocated the use of barrier enclosures (typically mounted over the head, with and without suction) to contain aerosol emissions from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. There is, however, little evidence for its usefulness. To test the effectiveness of such a device, we built a manikin that can expire micron-sized aerosols at flow rates close to physiological conditions. We then placed the manikin inside the enclosure and used a laser sheet to visualize the aerosol leaking out. We show that with sufficient suction, it is possible to effectively contain aerosol from the manikin, reducing aerosol exposure outside the enclosure by 99%. In contrast, a passive barrier without suction only reduces aerosol exposure by 60%.",

author = "Dan Daniel and Marcus Lin and Irvan Luhung and Tony Lui and Anton Sadovoy and Xueqi Koh and Anqi Sng and Tuan Tran and Schuster, {Stephan C.} and {Jun Loh}, Xian and Thet, {Oo Schwe} and Tan, {Chee Keat}",

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doi = "10.1111/ina.12828",

language = "English (US)",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients

AU - Daniel, Dan

AU - Lin, Marcus

AU - Luhung, Irvan

AU - Lui, Tony

AU - Sadovoy, Anton

AU - Koh, Xueqi

AU - Sng, Anqi

AU - Tran, Tuan

AU - Schuster, Stephan C.

AU - Jun Loh, Xian

AU - Thet, Oo Schwe

AU - Tan, Chee Keat

N1 - Generated from Scopus record by KAUST IRTS on 2023-02-14

PY - 2021/9/1

Y1 - 2021/9/1

N2 - Facing shortages of personal protective equipment, some clinicians have advocated the use of barrier enclosures (typically mounted over the head, with and without suction) to contain aerosol emissions from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. There is, however, little evidence for its usefulness. To test the effectiveness of such a device, we built a manikin that can expire micron-sized aerosols at flow rates close to physiological conditions. We then placed the manikin inside the enclosure and used a laser sheet to visualize the aerosol leaking out. We show that with sufficient suction, it is possible to effectively contain aerosol from the manikin, reducing aerosol exposure outside the enclosure by 99%. In contrast, a passive barrier without suction only reduces aerosol exposure by 60%.

AB - Facing shortages of personal protective equipment, some clinicians have advocated the use of barrier enclosures (typically mounted over the head, with and without suction) to contain aerosol emissions from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. There is, however, little evidence for its usefulness. To test the effectiveness of such a device, we built a manikin that can expire micron-sized aerosols at flow rates close to physiological conditions. We then placed the manikin inside the enclosure and used a laser sheet to visualize the aerosol leaking out. We show that with sufficient suction, it is possible to effectively contain aerosol from the manikin, reducing aerosol exposure outside the enclosure by 99%. In contrast, a passive barrier without suction only reduces aerosol exposure by 60%.

UR - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.12828

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85104519729&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/ina.12828

DO - 10.1111/ina.12828

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SN - 0905-6947

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EP - 1644

JO - Indoor Air

JF - Indoor Air

IS - 5

ER -

Effective design of barrier enclosure to contain aerosol emissions from COVID-19 patients

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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